'Keep Ebola Weird!' The Daily Show visits Austin, mocks Texas on Ebola

Jon Stewart has brought The Daily Show down here to Austin to cover the 2014 midterms, and he greeted his first night's guests on Monday in full Ebola hazmat suit and carrying a semi-automatic rifle — Texas is "the only open-carry Ebola state in the Union," he explained, probably unnecessarily. Though he's in Austin to cover politics, he said, he had to first address what everyone is talking about: America's "perverse obsession with a virus that none of us who has not had direct contact with an Ebola patient has gotten."
After that it was full-court Ebola coverage: Samantha Bee in Dallas, reporting that Texas handled its Ebola outbreak by shooting at, giving the death penalty to, and praying for the virus; Aasif Mandvi in New York, railing against his decision to stay in the new Ebola Central; Jordan Klepper, eating meat; and Jessica Williams, flattering Austin. Will Austin get Ebola from Dallas? Stewart asked, setting her up. "Austin sets the trends, and Dallas finds out about them five years later," Williams said, snapping. "Austin is already brewing its own locally sourced, small batch, Fair Trade, organic, cage free, farm-to-table Ebola. Keep Ebola Weird!"
After sticking it to Texas (well, mostly Dallas), Stewart mocked New York and New Jersey's Ebola panic, and Congressional Republicans' Ebola fearmongering, in the second part of the show, which you can watch here. --Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Will Trump lead to more or fewer nuclear weapons in the world?
Talking Points He wants denuclearization. But critics worry about proliferation.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Is Ye finally about to be canceled for good?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION From doubling down on overt antisemitism and Nazi admiration to a series of alarming public appearances, the rap superstar and fashion mogul might have finally gone too far
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Planning a trip? These are 3 budget-breaking mistakes to avoid.
The Explainer Don't accidentally inflate your travel costs
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published